Facsimile recorder



Dec. 14, 1943. J M AL 2,336,909

FACS IMILE RECORDER Filed Aug. 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 14, 1943. R J w s ETAL FACSIMILE RECORDER Filed Aug. 29, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

FIG:

5 w y 0 E E N W o J H RG Patented Dec. 14, 1943 assume FACSIMILI RECORDER Raleigh I. Wise, Dunellen, and Garvice H.

Bidings, Summit, N. 1.,

asaignorato'l'he Western Union Telegraph Company New York. N. Y.. a corporation of New York 1 Application August :9, 1041. Serial No. 40cm 13cm. (cl. 234-59) This invention relates to facsimile telegraphy and more particularly to electrical recording on blanks formed of paper or other material which must be maintained at a fairly definite degree of humidity for satisfactory recording. s

The present invention is concerned with a sheet of paper or other fibrous material prepared in any suitabl manner by the application of a substance which' becomes conductive when moistened. Examples of such substances l0.

are ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, sodium nitrate, and nickel sulphate. The paper impregnated with such substances becomes conductive when the blank is subjected to moist atmosphere thereby permitting current to pass 15 through the blank for the purpose of recording thereon. The marking material may b im- Premated lmthe blank or may be applied as a coating over the blank Examples of various coating materials are lead thiosulphate, titanium dioxide, and mercuric sulphide. In Patent No. 2,225,247, granted December 17,1940, there is disclosed apparatus suitable for moistening such I a blank prior to recording thereon. However,

in the use of such blank the exposure of the I blank to the atmosphere during the recording operation or while awaiting the recording operation. causes it to rapidly lose its moisture content so that at the time recording is commenced or before it is completed, the blank may become nifiiciently dry to preclude proper passage of current therethrough or its conductivity ma vary to such extent that the successive blanks or successive portions oi the same blank have diiierent electrical characteristics, thus causinga variation in the'recording between the successive blanks or successive portions of the same blank.

An object of this invention is to provide protective means for th blank to prevent the drying out thereof prior to or during the recording operation so that the complete recording operation can be properly done irrespective of the relative humidity of the surrounding atmosphere.

- A further obiect is to provide a machine for. 4

conditioning recording blanks and automaticalis delivering them to a telegraph recorder without sufiicient exposure thereof to the atmosphere to permit any substantial change in the electrical conductivity of the blanks.

A still further object is to provide an improved method of treating telegraph recording blanks of the type set forth to prevent premature drying thereof during a recording operation.

These and other obiects, which will be apparent as operation is carried out from to those skilled in the art, are accomplished by the present invention, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l i a perspective view of a telegraph recorder constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. arranged for hand feeding: a

Fig. 2 is an elevation of an automatic feeding device comprising a humidifying magazine and an automatic feed for presenting the humidifled blanks to the scanning mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified arrangement.

In the presentinvention, blank of recording material is placed in a prec0ndlti0n1ng or humidifying cabinet or the like until it has acquired the desired conductivity. It is then covered in such a way as to be protected against drying in the atmosphere. During the recording operation the blank i progressively exposed Just ahead of the stylus so that the actual recording to end on material of the correct moisture content.

The present invention is illustrated in connection with a facsimile telegraph recorder of the type shown in the application of Wise et al.. Serial No. 110,760, filed November 11, 1936, for System and apparatus for facsimil telegraphy,

now Patent No. 2,255,868, granted September 16,-

the carriage for movement therewith longitudinaliy of a recording cylinder II, the latter havingaxial arbors i0 and I! by whichltis mounted for-rotation between centering spindles II and m ll.- .As described in said Patent NO. 2.355.868.

the driving spindle II is rotated by an electric motor Ii through reduction gearing 22 and friction clutch 2!, controlled by a notched stop disc 14 under the control of a framing or phasing magnet 28. An arm 28 is'pivoted on the spindle i8 and extends in the'direction of the cylinder to eng ge a pin 21 projecting radially from the spindle and also a pin 28 extending radially from the arbor ii. The arm 20 i urged into engagement with the pin by a spring," one end of which is attached to the arm and the other end to the spindle It. By this means the recording cylinder 15 is rotated by rotation of the spindle It.

recordin blank ii i wrapped around the any suitable 32, the inner it and seal it age;

, abut against the ring sated between the support-lug guide shown, c.

- ldto a adieu-cut th cradle members 3, only one recording cylindes l and is secured thereon by nob as a pair oi elastic rings being movable along the blanlz and cylinder. The blanl: is mounted on the cylinder so that the lap oi the edges invariably bears a definite relation to the notch in the disc 26 for the purpose of obtaining the desired phasing with an associated transmitter (not shown) will understood by those skilled in the est and as is more fully described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,255,868.

The centering spindle l6 is longitudinally may able in supporting and ill, a coil spring 538 tending to hold the spindle in cylinder supporting position. duly suitable means such as a yoke 39 engaging plus ill on the spindle can be employed for retracting it to permit changing recording cylinders at the end oil a recording operation. Retraction oi the spindle is releases the cylinder, permitting it to drop slightly onto a cradle formed by grooves in a pair of members be and d5 mounted on a rocker shaft cc journaled in any convenient bearings. after retraction of the spindle la the cradle members can be rocked I outwardly to deposit the cylinder with its arbor id received between guides 58, E32 and arbor id between guides e3, lid. The staggered on the guides permit the cylinder to drop slowly by gravity through the guidcsand to be collected by hand. The yoke 39 and shaft db may be actu ated by cams 5b and Fall, respectively driven by an electric motor 558, as fully set forth in the aforementioned Patent lilo. escapee.

The scanning carriage ii is moved longitudi= pally or" the cylinder recording, iuthe well lmowu manner. by suitable mechanism not shoym herein, but fully desci'lb-ed in said Pat= cut No. "2,255,868.

lugs 5b aeeaooc for receiving the arbors l6 and ll of the recording cylinders l5.

As described in said Patent No. 2,255,868 the cradle members are intermittently rotated to successively place the recording cylinders in recording position to be engaged by the supporting centers l8 and IS with the recording blank in contact with the stylus M as shown in Fig. 2. At the end of a recording operation the cradle is rotated automatically after freeing the arbors from the supporting centers ,to move a fresh cylinder into position and discharge the one bearing the recorded message. A second pair of rails 11, only one of which is shown, partially embraces each cradle member 15 to retain the cylinders therein during movement into recording position, and provide supports for receiving the cylinders after recording.

A pivoted latch 18 is positioned adjacent to one of the rails 14 in the path of the cylinders in the conditioning chamber H to hold the cylinders therein. Pins 19 are suitably located on one of the cradle members IB'for engaging an arm of the latch at the proper time when the cradle member is rotated, to trip the latch and release a single cylinder for delivery by gravity-to the cradle members.

l or any other suitable control, can be employed In the present invention means is provided for preventing prematuse drying of the humidified recording blaul; during the recording opera= tion. As illustrated in 1, about double the length. of the blank of record ing material cud a cover seal is provided in the form oi a sleeve or tube'lil which is slldable over the to substantially entirely coves.= t the atmosphere. in posi tioning the sleeve over the blank the two elastic ring fasteners and are pushed together at the end oi the cylinder and the sleeve moved to finger projecting outwardly isoiu the ll has its end lotwo elastic rings.

The is ositioued adjacent the recording stylus id. doe, during recording, as the l5 moved longitudinally along the so tatihg cylindei' and the cylinder lb is rotated by the motor Ell, moves the elastic ring abutting sleeve longitudinally to pro= gressiyely uncover blauls Si oi recording of stylus as it moves is e" own. mechanism for automat= succesxye ill with the es thereon to the scanning mech= anism. illu: ed, this includes a conditiom ing or: humidig cabinet ll having hinged lid l2 door pair of cylinder only one of which is the length. of the y through the door s of a of rotary which is same.

cabinet and pi" cradle have the cylinder is blank and the latter is applied thereto adjacent I pheral recesses lb my .to operate cooling and moisture control valves 88 and 89, respectively, from a current source 8|, to regulate the condition of the atmosphere in the preconditioning cabinet 'I l.

The cylinders 15 within the humldifylng chamber H are substantially twice the length of the one end, in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1. The tubular protecting member 6| is positioned eat the opposite end of the cylinder so that the blank is freely exposed to the humid atmosphere within the chamber. Upon operation of the latch W the cylinder, as stated, rolls down the rail-ll into the cradles 15 at the uppermost position thereof and then awaits the recording from the preceding cylinder which is now in recording position. At the time the cylinder leaves the humidifying chamber and moves onto the cradle member l5, the operator slides the tubular sleeve over the humidified message and thereby protects it from dehumidification during the time it is awaiting advancement to the recording" position. During recording the tubular sleeve is moved ofi of the blank by the arm 62 as shown in Fig. 1, Just preceding the stylus.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of cover or seal for the recording blank. -As illustrated, it

comprises a narrow ribbon or' tape such, for

example, as a Cellophane tape wrapped around the cyllnder so as to enclose the blank of recording material. The tape should be wound at a pitch corresponding to the number of lines scanned by the stylus per linear inch so that it can be unwound to progressively uncover the recording materialfat the same rate as that at which the stylus sca s. If, for example, the

stylus scans one hundre lines to the linear inch, the tape should be wrapped with a one hundred line pitch, or a tion permitting tates.

To unwrap,

pitch of ,4 inch, and in a direcunwrapping as the cylinders roafter the cylinder is in position, the end of the tape is passed over guide pulleys as, or the like, on the scanning carriage, and connected to a spring pulley or reel 91, whereby the tape will be unwound and taken up by the reel as the cylinder rotates during scanning. thus progressively uncovering the recording material in advance of the stylus.

In operation, referring to Fig. 1, when the recording cylinder is positioned on the supporting centers I8, is in recording position, the elastic ring 33 and sleeve ii are moved slightly away from the ring 32 to expose a. part of the recording material to the stylus and to position the finger 62 against the ring 33. As the scanning operation proceeds the finger moves the ring and sleeve longitudinally of the cylinder to progressively uncover the recording material ahead of the stylus. The ring 33 being near the stylus holds the recording material tightly against the cylinder at the point of recording. The cylinder II is of such length that the sleeve 6| can be moved sufficiently to completely uncover the blank if necessary. At the end of the recording oper ation the cylinder is removed and a fresh one substituted.

The operation of the modification illustrated in Fig. 3 is obvious. In this case a relatively shorter cylinder, approximating in length that of the blank, can be employed.

For automatic cylinder feeding the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 can be employed.

It will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the structure shown without departing from the essential attributes of the invention, and all such changes are contemplated as coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a support for a blank of recording material, a stylus for recording on a blank on said support means for covering said blank while it is in scanning position on said support to prevent deterioration thereof, and means for moving said covering means during scanning operations to permit said stylus to record on the blank.

2. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a recording cylinder adapted to support a blank of humidified recording material, a stylus for recording on a blank on said cylinder, a cover for said blank while it is in scanning position on said cylinder to prevent drying thereof, and means for removing said cover during scanning operations to permit said stylus to record thereon.

3. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a support for a blank of humidified material for recording on a blank on said support, a recording stylus, means for covering said blank while it is in scanning position on said support to prevent drying thereof, and means for progressively moving said covering means to uncover said blank during the recording operation to permit said stylus to record thereon.

4. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a support for a blank of humidified recording material, a recording stylus, means for said stylus relatively to a blank on said support for recording thereon. means for covering said blank on said support prior torecording to prevent drying thereof, and means for moving said moving covering means to uncover said blank during recording to permit said stylus to record thereon. 5. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a recording cylinder adapted to support a blank 5 of humidified recording material, a recording stylus, means for moving said stylus relatively to a blank on said cylinder for recording thereon,

means covering a blank on said cylinder to prevent drying thereof prior to recording, and means movable simultaneously with said stylus relatively to said cylinder for progressively moving said covering means to uncover said blank in advance of said stylus to permit said stylus to record thereon.

6. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a recording cylinder adapted to support a blank of recording material, a'sleeve slidable on said cylinder and adapted to cover a recording blank thereon, a recording stylus movable relatively to said cylinder for recording on a blank, and means for moving said sleeve longitudinally of said cylinder to progressively uncover a blank during a recording operation.

7. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a recording cylinder adapted to support a blank of recording material, a sleeve slidable on said cylinder for covering ablank thereon, a scanning carriage movable relatively to said cylinder,

a recording stylus mounted on said carriage and 80 movable therewith for recording on said blank,

means for moving said carriage and stylus longitudinlly of said cylinder, and means actuated by movement of said carriage for sliding said sleeve longitudinally of said cylinder to progressively uncover a blank thereon in advance of said stylus. 8. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a recording cylinder adapted to support a blank of humidified recording material, a recording stylus, a cover for a blank on said cylinder to prevent dryingthereof comprising a strip wrapped spirally around said blank, and means for unwinding said strip to progressively uncover said blank and permit said stylus to record thereon.

, 9. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a recording cylinder adapted to support a blank of humidified recording material, a recording stylus, a cover for a blank on said cylinder to prevent drying thereof comprising a strip wrapped spirally around said blank, means for rotating said cylinder during recording, and means operated by rotation thereof for unwinding said strip to progres sively uncover said blank and permit said stylus to record thereon.

10. A facsimile telegraph machine comprising a recording cylinder adapted to support a blank of humidified recording material, a recording stylus, a cover for a blank on said cylinder to PR! vent drying thereof comprising a strip wrapped spirally around said said cylinder during recording, and means operated by rotation thereof for unwinding said strip to progressively uncover said blank and permit said stylus to record thereon comprising a spring pulley connected to said strip.

11. The combination in a device for supporting a blank of recording material in a. telegraph recorder, of a support for said material, and means on said support for covering said material so as to prevent deterioration of the recording properties of said material, said means being movable on said support to uncover recording.

12. A device for supporting a blank of recording material in a telegraph recorder comprising a cylinder adapted to have said material wrapped said material for blank, means for rotating around it, and a sleeve slidably mounted on said cylinder to cover said material thereon so as to revent deterioration of the recording properties of said material, said sleeve being movable longitudinally of said cylinder to uncover said material for recording purposes.

13. A device for supporting a blank of recording material in a telegraph recorder comprising a cylinder mapted to have sa 6 material wrapped around it, a sleeve slidably mounted on said cylinder to cover said material thereon so as to prevent deterioration of the recording properties of 

